Prep Stars Back to School
The Season opened for the Prep Stars on Thursday with an exhibition game vs. Székesfehérvár (Hungary), before two league games against the Linz BlackWings and Villach Eagles. The Prep Stars, competing in the Austrian U-20 league this season, were admittedly behind the rest of the teams starting their season, as players had arrived only 5 days earlier for the start of camp.
Thursday’s tilt with the Hungarians from Székesfehérvár started chaotically, with the Stars trying to get a feel of the systems, players, and linemates on just one full team practice. The Hungarians opened the scoring first, with a rebound goal off of a face-off miscue to take a 1-0 lead just under 10 minutes into the game. The Stars, however, responded midway into the second to even the match, as Daniel Leisser put in a rebound off of a Fabio Kläy shot on the powerplay. Johann Bauer was stellar in the first half of the game, before giving way to Swiss-born Eliah Knecht. The Hungarians pushed the young Swiss netminder, building up a 3-1 lead before the end of the second. The Stars began to climb back, tying the game with just over 8 minutes left. Unable to shut the door, however, the Stars conceded an even strength goal and then an empty net goal falling 5-3.
Prep Stars 3 – Székesfehérvár 5 (0-1; 1-2; 2;2)
Game two of the season was on the road against the Linz BlackWings. The Stars came out with a little more confidence, and just 2 minutes into the game, the BlackWings found the back of the net. Five minutes later, the Wings again were able to beat Sandro Aeschlimann, and with less than 16 seconds to go in the period, the Stars again were unable to clear a puck, and the Wings held a 3-0 lead at period end. The second period, the Stars were better, and seven minutes into the frame, Fritz Schroder pounced on a rebound from Albert Krammer’s point shot on the powerplay (Leisser picked up the other assist). It was all of the offense the Stars could muster, however, as they struggled to execute under the pressure and speed of the Wings. The Wings picked up two more goals en route to a 5-1 win.
Prep Stars 1 – BWL 5 (0-3; 1-1; 0-1)
On Sunday the Stars hosted the league’s reigning Champion Villach Eagles. Johann Bauer got the nod in between the pipes, but struggled to find his game in the first frame, and just over 15 minutes into the game he was relieved by Sandro Aeschlimann after giving up 3 goals on 6 shots. The Stars, meanwhile, were skating and moving, but couldn’t get on the board as Lukas Schulderbacher piched a shutout. The middle frame saw the Eagles tally four more goals, and one in the third, as the Eagles cruised to an 8-0 win.
Prep Stars 0 – VSV 8 (0-3; 0-4; 0-1)
“Overall, we are making progress, but there is still a lot of feeling out to do,” surmised coach O’Leary. “We do some very good things, but then one mistake and the other teams are capitalizing. That’s the difference between the older guys and us, but that’s why we’re here. We have to learn to put out at that pace; at that speed.” O’Leary remained positive. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. Our goal is to improve, and if we are doing that, we will be fine. It’s just a matter of committing to the process.”
Next up, the Stars will travel to Vienna for a game against the Caps. Check back next week for more details.'
